The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-09-15
voters! A Wordy
Written for the COMET.

We are soon to express ourselves at
the polls as to whether the liquor traf-
fic shall be legal business and be
reconed as one of the honored and
honest professions or whether it shall
be a crime, before the law. That we
have right to out law the saloon has
already passed beyond question.
Are we honest and patriotic enough
to do ii that is the question.
We are asked to vote on this propo-
sition as one involving the public safe
ty, and must therefore vote as citizens
loving our country and home.
1t is unworthy a citizen of our
mountain country to pass judgemnt
on apublic question according as it
effects his private appetites or person
al interests. The intelligent East
Tennessean is not so selfish. How
does it affect my neighbor as we'll as
myself? What is its influence upon
the public intelligence public, finance
and public morals OF the country?
As these questions are satisfactorily
answered so must our ballots be cast.
The evils OF rum shops are too well
known to all OF us to need any proof.
And let us remember that these evils
are not confined to the drinking man
but fall upon every member OF socie-
ty. The man who doesn't drink must
help pay the heavy burdens OF taxa
ton incurred by the traffic. The wo-
men and children must suffer in mind
and body for comforts that sober hus-
bands generally bring.
The effort is not to save the already
ruined man but to protect the inno-
cent who have no appreciation OF the
danger lurking in and around gilded
| barroom.
Now and then cold hearted man
tells me that liquor won't hurt "fel-
Ter" if he will let it alone. My dear
sir is there bright eyed and happy
boy of ten summers that plays around
your home and Preside? Is there?
tell me, is there? Are you willing
that barroom with its music shall be
put up in front of your door as con-
slant temptation to ruin that boy?
You don't want your boy a drunkard,
and we know it, then, sir, where is the
manhood in you when by your ballot
you place a barroom at my door to
bring ruin and death to my family.
This prohibitory amendment does
not strike at any private act OF any
individual, simply looks upon the traf-
fic as public business, public curse
Should the Amendment be adopted
some men who neither regard God MOI
Truth, are trying to make the less in
telligent part of our people believe
that each community aUW haze ats LITTLE
distilery in order to supply the home
demand.
For the sake of the honest voter it il
well to say that the Amendment pro
hibits the maui dcture for sale as {
beverage, and that it does not interfere
with the present regulations of the
National Government, when it il
manufactured for any other purpose
Then to manufacture for ones OWn uSt
a Government license must be procur
ed-a distillery bought-the work done
a store keeper furnished-and 90 cent
on the gallon paid before the frs
dram can be drunk. No individual
nor neighborhood can afford this out
lay Of money for private drinking l
is the Sellig that makes the bushes
profitable. That is prohibited, henc,
no little distilleries.
Here, friend is a thought for you
consideration Why are you not
rum seller?
"What? l didn't quit get your an
swer?"
"Well, sir, ii you will haveit, Idon'
think it is Right to sell whisky"
Good, I agree with you"
When the white aproned bar tende
is ask, the same question he points t.
his license tackled on the wall an,
says "it is a lawful business"
''Where did you get your license?
"From the State"
"Whom compose the State"
"The people"
"The people, then, gave you you
permission"
Yes, sir"
"You hold them responsible wit
yourself for the evil done"
81 do, sir"
How do they express themselve
on this question"
"At the ballot box where all publ
questions are settled, and when tn
voters of this country cease to assum